Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and representatives from PT Ciomas Adisatwa–Japfa Group have agreed to collaborate on developing a teaching farm and teaching industry. This initiative aims to provide students with learning opportunities to study professional poultry slaughterhouse management.
This agreement was reached during a meeting on Friday (May 3) at the UGM Central Office between representatives of PT Ciomas Adisatwa–Japfa Group and the leadership of the UGM Faculty of Animal Science (Animal Science UGM), the UGM Directorate of Business Development, and the Agrotechnology Innovation Center (PIAT UGM).
Dr. Hargo Utomo, Director of Business Development, stated that this expanded collaboration between UGM and Ciomas Adisatwa will enhance students’ knowledge and skills through the development of a teaching farm and teaching industry at the PIAT UGM area located in Berbah, Sleman.
“The development of a teaching farm and teaching industry can later be used as a learning model by Animal Science UGM. PIAT, as a showcase, will become a place for experimenting with professional poultry farming management from upstream to downstream,” Dr. Utomo explained.
He added that the plotting area for the teaching farm will be adjusted according to PIAT’s development plans, which will position it as a hub for inter-faculty agro-complex activities at UGM. Nevertheless, the development of the teaching farm will still accommodate Ciomas Adisatwa’s business interests without disrupting the ongoing daily operations.
Awan Setiawan, Head of Human Resources and General Affairs at PT Ciomas Adisatwa–Japfa Group, explained that the existing conditions of the poultry slaughterhouse do not allow for the construction of a poultry farming area at the same location.
This is due to the requirements and permits requested by end-user consumers, which stipulate that the farming and processing areas must be at a certain distance from each other.
“We hope that further discussions regarding the layout blueprint of PIAT’s development will lead to a win-win solution. If necessary, we are ready to develop a teaching farm using solar panels to improve energy efficiency,” said Setiawan.
Collaboration between UGM and PT Ciomas Adisatwa has been ongoing since 2003 when two poultry houses were constructed at Animal Science UGM. This cooperation continued until 2015, when a post-harvest laboratory for the livestock industry and a poultry slaughterhouse were established at PIAT.
Professor Budi Guntoro, Dean of Animal Science UGM, revealed that this established collaboration has significant benefits for his faculty, especially for internship programs, practicums, and industrial visits offered by partners to students.
“I believe this teaching farm can become a venue for gaining relevant practical knowledge and experience for the workforce,” he stated.
This collaboration also provides lecturers with opportunities to develop their research through mini-industrial-scale laboratories. Dean Guntoro hopes that this cooperation will continue, thus providing broad benefits, particularly concerning food security for the community.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Editor: Gusti Grehenson